We have to be aware of the importance of reading in the process of acquisition of a language. Although the methodology is mainly based on the use of the information and communication technologies, I do not want them to be the panacea in order to learn a language, so we do not have to forget the important role of reading when learning a language as English. I do believe in ITCs as a key vehicle to motivate our students to learn new ways of communications, through the great amount of applications and websites you can find in the internet. We, teachers (and parents) have to know that reading is essential to foster students' learning, not only of a language, but a culture, too.
I am not referring to those "Compulsory Reading" in our Secondary Schools, which students have to read and be tested after it. I do think we should offer our students a new world, a new habit, that of free reading, trying to instill the love of reading in them and understand what reading is. Reading is knowledge, reading is to know more about different things, and that does not imply a big task if we bring nearer to our students books, stories, magazines, comics and so on. We have to provide our students with a kind of reading which inspire, keep them amused, and of course, it is a vital source of education and information.
2. Benefits of Reading
As stated in the article: "10 Benefits of Reading", reading is a vehicle for the learning process, the development of the intelligence, the acquisition of culture, etc :
Reading is an active mental process: Unlike sitting in front of the idiot box (TV), reading makes you use your brain. While reading you would be forced to reason out many things which are unfamiliar to you. In this process you would use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.
Reading improves your vocabulary: Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise.
Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places of the world: How would you know about the life of people in Mexico if you don’t read about it? Reading gives you an insight into the diversity of ethnicity of people, their customs, their lifestyles etc. You become more aware about the different places and the code of conduct in those places.
Improves concentration and focus: It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information, books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.
Builds self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better.
Improves memory: Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.
Improves your discipline: Making time to read is something we all know we should do, but who schedules book reading reading to your daily schedule and sticking to it, improves discipline. time every day? Very few… That’s why adding book
Improves creativity: Reading about diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and more information helps to develop the creative side of the brain as it imbibes innovation into your thinking process.
You always have something to talk about: Have you ever found yourself in an embarrassing situation where you didn’t have anything to talk about? Did you hate yourself for making a fool of yourself? Do you want a remedy for this? It’s simple. Start reading. Reading widens your horizon of information. You’ll always have something to talk about. You can discuss various plots in the novels you read, you can discuss the stuff you are learning in the business books you are reading as well. The possibilities of sharing become endless.
Reduces boredom: One of the rules I have is if I am feeling bored, I will pick up a book and start reading. What I’ve found by sticking to this is that I become interested in the book’s subject and stop being bored. I mean, if you’re bored anyway, you might as well be reading a good book, right?
3. Graded Readers
It is also important to mention here the Graded Readers, according to Collins dictionary, a story which has been adapted for people learning to read or learning a foreign language. These are the books we usullay offer our students to read to increase their level of vocabulary, revise grammar points and so on.
I would like you to have a look to the following documents:
1. By Penguin, a Teacher's Guide to using Graded Readers:
You can see here an online example of a graded reader for beginners: "First Time in England" with an interactive version.
Ideas using graded readers
A Class Library: To make a class library of books at a suitable level which students simply borrow and read at their leisure.
Radio Play: To turn a graded reader into a radio play. Students working in groups turn the story (or a scene) from a graded reader into dialogue form and then record the dialogue, adding perhaps music and sound effects.
Poster Presentation: This is a fun and enjoyable way for students to practise presentations in small groups on interesting stories.
Glogster: By using this application, the students will carry out a virtual poster based on the vocabulary, the grammar points, the characters, etc. dealing with the graded reader. A bit of imagination to make the most out of the readers!
Drama: Dramatizing key scenes may be interesting and funny for your students. You can record and watch it later with your students.
Characters: Imagine and create the past lives of characters.
Author: Writing letters to the author.
Find your reading level
An interactive test by MacMillan so you can check that you are reading the books most suitable to your language level. Click here.
4. Reading Methods
Click on the following links to read information about reading methods and activities to learn to read:
Link 1: You will read here information about four reading methods.
Link 2: Some comments on different reading methods.
Link 4: Some considerations on reading methods for learning disabilities students.
As said in a document by the International Reading Association: Using Multiple Methods of Beginning Reading Instructions, page 2, "There is no single method or single combination of methods that can successfully teach all children to read. Therefore, teachers must have a strong knowledge of multiple methods for teaching reading and a strong knowledge of the children in their care so they can create the appropriate balance of methods needed for the children they teach." Our task as teachers is to read information about the different methods and use those ones we consider useful to improve the reading abilities of our students.
5. On-line Readings
The following links will be helpful if you want your students read online. You can see more clicking here.
Web 1: Interesting page with interactive reading activities with three levels: easy, intermediate and advanced.
Web 2: You will find here short stories in English, with vocabulary explanation. They are simple short stories that will help you learn new English vocabulary. Remember that you can double click any word for the Spanish translation or the definition in English.
Web 6: This page offers graded readers with different levels and activities.
Web 7: The page contains two sections: 1. Reading: reading comprehension activities linked to a text. It includes answer keys and a Spanish translation of the text; 2. "Audio Texts": you can hear the pronunciation while reading the texts.
Web 8: English reading for ESL. 110 selected texts to read and learn english online. Click here for more stories.
Web 9: 365 short stories. Each story offers links to the vocabulary, a crossword, the key words and a dictation to be done individually by the students.
Web 10: A great deal of stories to be read in class or at home and classified by categories. You can download them for free.
5. Articles
Here, there is a selection of articles dealing with the importance of reading:
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
We have to be aware of the importance of reading in the process of acquisition of a language. Although the methodology is mainly based on the use of the information and communication technologies, I do not want them to be the panacea in order to learn a language, so we do not have to forget the important role of reading when learning a language as English. I do believe in ITCs as a key vehicle to motivate our students to learn new ways of communications, through the great amount of applications and websites you can find in the internet. We, teachers (and parents) have to know that reading is essential to foster students' learning, not only of a language, but a culture, too.
I am not referring to those "Compulsory Reading" in our Secondary Schools, which students have to read and be tested after it. I do think we should offer our students a new world, a new habit, that of free reading, trying to instill the love of reading in them and understand what reading is. Reading is knowledge, reading is to know more about different things, and that does not imply a big task if we bring nearer to our students books, stories, magazines, comics and so on. We have to provide our students with a kind of reading which inspire, keep them amused, and of course, it is a vital source of education and information.
2. Benefits of Reading
As stated in the article: "10 Benefits of Reading", reading is a vehicle for the learning process, the development of the intelligence, the acquisition of culture, etc :
3. Graded Readers
It is also important to mention here the Graded Readers, according to Collins dictionary, a story which has been adapted for people learning to read or learning a foreign language. These are the books we usullay offer our students to read to increase their level of vocabulary, revise grammar points and so on.
I would like you to have a look to the following documents:
1. By Penguin, a Teacher's Guide to using Graded Readers:
2. By MacMillan, Using Graded Readers in The Classroom
You can see here an online example of a graded reader for beginners: "First Time in England" with an interactive version.
Ideas using graded readers
Find your reading level
An interactive test by MacMillan so you can check that you are reading the books most suitable to your language level. Click here.
4. Reading Methods
Click on the following links to read information about reading methods and activities to learn to read:
As said in a document by the International Reading Association: Using Multiple Methods of Beginning Reading Instructions, page 2, "There is no single method or single combination of methods that can successfully teach all children to read. Therefore, teachers must have a strong knowledge of multiple methods for teaching reading and a strong knowledge of the children in their care so they can create the appropriate balance of methods needed for the children they teach." Our task as teachers is to read information about the different methods and use those ones we consider useful to improve the reading abilities of our students.
5. On-line Readings
The following links will be helpful if you want your students read online. You can see more clicking here.
5. Articles
Here, there is a selection of articles dealing with the importance of reading: